Netflix has announced its next big bet beyond traditional content streaming. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, the CTO of Netflix, Elizabeth Stone, confirmed that the platform is adding three new features to make the watching experience more social and immersive. The new features are made with an aim to make viewers feel involved, connected, and part of the show’s story in real time.

Netflix is rolling out three new features to boost audience engagement

The CTO has announced the rollout of Netflix’s new real-time voting feature for live shows. This feature will let the viewers directly influence outcomes as they watch. Previously, it had already been tested on a live cooking show, and the official confirmed that they received a tremendous response.

Now, Netflix is expanding this to Star Search as it returns after 20 years. During the show, viewers will be able to vote live from their TV or phone to help decide which contestants move forward. Voting windows will be time-limited to keep things fair. Rewinding the livestream will result in losing the chance to vote.

Alongside the live-voting feature, Netflix has introduced a new interactive screen on its homepage. The first rollout is a Halloween immersive experience, followed by holiday and franchise-themed sets like Bridgerton. Above all, this feature is designed to bring the content to life through animation and dynamic special effects

Netflix brings a cleaner and kid-friendly homepage

After announcing the interactive features, the official revealed the new kids’ profile feature on Netflix. Now, it is rolling out globally with a redesigned homepage modeled after the adult experience, but tailored for children’s habits. Additionally, the kids’ interface includes a simplified layout with a top navigation bar. Moreover, it also gets a dedicated ‘My Netflix’ tab for saved and recently watched titles.

Apart from this, Netflix is creating party games for the TV, including Boggle, where players can use their phones as a controller. These launch later this year, with more games coming in 2026.

With these new features, the company wants its audience to feel more connected to the storyline playing on the screens. In addition, they want to change the traditional content viewing experience to something unique and more ‘personal.’

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The next major evolution of smart home devices is here. After testing it for months, Google has officially started the early access rollout of Gemini for Home in the US, bringing a powerful AI upgrade to Google Home devices. With this update, the home device adopts a more advanced Gemini AI as an assistant, replacing the traditional Google Assistant.

Gemini for Home is now available for the enrolled early access program users

Google began testing Gemini for Home in early October by inviting select users to try it. Now, the update is rolling out in early access for enrolled US users. The global stable release of the update is expected to take place in early 2026. Those enrolled in the program will automatically be upgraded from Google Assistant to Gemini.

Gemini, as a voice assistant, is noticeably more capable and natural in terms of conversation. Users will be able to access Gemini through their existing Google speakers and displays simply by saying “Hey Google.” It is compatible with the following devices:

• Google Nest Hub (1st & 2nd gen)
• Google Nest Hub Max
• Google Nest Audio
• Google Nest Mini (1st & 2nd gen)
• Google Home and Home Max
• Google Nest Wi-Fi Point

Gemini brings smarter control for Home devices

As the Gemini is now integrated into Home devices, users will now be able to do much more than just control lights or play music. The AI-powered assistant can now answer more complex questions, help with learning, and even offer lifestyle advice. For example, you can ask: “Hey Google, how can I improve water pressure in my shower?” or “OK Google, what should I eat before a 5K run?”

Furthermore, please note that the feature is currently being rolled out to users already enrolled in the early access program. Stable users in the US may receive the update by the end of the year, whereas the global rollout is expected to begin in 2026. Once global access expands, setting up and managing your smart home devices will likely become simpler than ever.

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Have you ever deleted an important text in Google Messages and instantly regretted it? Well, you are not alone. Right now, it’s not possible to recover a deleted message. But to address the concern, Google seems to be working on an undo button for its Messages app, making the texting experience safer.

Google is working on an Undo texting button for the Messages app

As reported by Android Authority, a new beta version of Google Messages hints at a new “trash” or “bin” folder. The concept of the new folder is pretty similar to what Gmail already has. When you delete a message, instead of completely disappearing right away, it might move to this trash folder. From there, you could have up to 30 days to recover it before it’s permanently deleted. This change would be a big relief for anyone who’s ever deleted an important text by accident.

Currently, deleting a message on the app is permanent. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. There’s literally no way to undo the task or bring back the text. And that’s what makes this upcoming feature so exciting. It finally addresses a problem that’s faced by almost everyone once in their life. Messages are also used for storing important bank texts or transaction SMS, and deleting them by mistake is the fear of many. The new option will finally address this fear.

Google aims for smarter and more reliable messaging services

The latest move confirms Google’s push to make the Messages app smarter and reliable. The app already lets users archive chats they want to hide without deleting them. But archiving isn’t enough when you want to bring back something you’ve completely removed. A new trash folder or undo delete option finally bridges that gap. It gives users better control over their texting experience. It solves a real problem faced by millions of users daily.

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AI is surely integrating itself into our daily lives. Gone are the days when we had to learn the whole Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides toolkit just for creating presentations. With the new update, Google is rolling out a new version of the Gemini tool that can create powerful presentations for you. All you have to do is type the prompt and upload relevant files, and the tool will then turn it into slides.

Google Gemini can now generate presentations from texts or files

The new update is now available for Gemini Pro users and is expected to be released to free users soon. Once updated, users can access the “Canvas” tab on the Gemini website, give it a topic or prompt, and attach relevant files. Gemini then generates a complete presentation based on the given input. It also matches the theme and visual effect throughout the slides for a more appealing and professional look.

Users can export the generated presentation directly to Google Slides. There, they can make small changes, such as editing text or rearranging slides. This makes it much easier for students, office workers, or anyone who needs to build a presentation fast.

Google says that the tool is backed by Gemini’s powerful AI

Google says that the Canvas feature uses the same AI that powers Gemini’s writing and reasoning abilities, but now applies to design and layout. The Canvas tool will show the instructions on one side and the results on the other. This process is done so that the user can see changes instantly. This side-by-side layout helps users easily adjust prompts to get better slides without switching screens.

Moreover, the feature is currently rolling out in batches. Only a limited group of users has access to the feature. A broader rollout is expected to take place in the coming days. You can log in to the Gemini website to see if the feature is available.

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Samsung’s upcoming big software update, One UI 8.5, is expected to bring some major changes and optimizations. However, things are reportedly not going as smoothly as planned. The company has now reportedly delayed the rollout of its One UI 8.5 beta. The program was earlier rumored to open in late November.

Samsung has delayed the rollout of the One UI 8.5 beta update

While Samsung has not made any official announcement yet, a fresh leak suggests that the firm has delayed the rollout of its One UI 8.5 beta update. The well-known tipster on X/Twitter, Tarun Vats, who closely follows the company’s software rollout timeline, recently revealed that the One UI 8.5 beta for the Galaxy S25 series has been postponed.

Earlier reports indicated that the beta would begin in the last week of November, but that schedule now appears unlikely. The delay seems to be connected with the major shake-up within the Galaxy S26 series.

According to sources, Samsung has canceled the Galaxy S26 Edge and reinstated the S26 Plus. It has also scrapped its plan to rename the standard S26 as S26 Pro. With the company revising its entire strategy, the internal development timeline has been disrupted. This has indirectly pushed back the One UI 8.5 beta as well.

The delay could be longer than anticipated

Since there are no official words on the update yet, it’s unclear how long the firm plans to hold off on the beta program. Historically, the company has delayed the release of its major software versions, such as One UI 8.0 and 8.1. This is to ensure the update’s stability before the stable release.

Anyway, if the One UI 8.5 beta rollout is delayed by more than a few weeks, it could line up with the slightly postponed launch of the Galaxy S26 series. However, depending upon the priorities of the company, the update may be delayed much longer than anticipated.

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Qualcomm has officially entered the AI chip race with the launch of its two new accelerator chips. With this move, the company aims for a major shift from its traditional focus on smartphone and wireless connectivity semiconductors. With the launch of its new AI200 and AI250 chips, the company has positioned itself as a new challenger in the booming data center market, currently dominated by Nvidia and AMD.

Qualcomm announces AI200 and AI250 accelerator chips

According to an official announcement, Qualcomm plans to commercially release its new accelerator chip, the AI200, in 2026. The AI250 is scheduled to launch later in 2027. Both of these chips are designed for large-scale, liquid-cooled server racks. They are capable of powering an entire rack with up to 72 chips acting as one system.

Qualcomm builds its data center chips on the same hexagon neural processing unit (NPU) as its mobile processors. According to the company’s general manager of data center and edge, Durga Malladi, this is a part of a strategic move. She says that “We first proved ourselves in other domains, and then scaled up to the data center level.”

The new AI chips are competing on cost, efficiency, and flexibility

Unlike NVIDIA, whose GPUs are primarily used for training AI models, Qualcomm’s chips focus on inference, running pre-trained models efficiently. The company claims its rack-scale systems will cost less to operate. It is said to consume around 160 kilowatts per rack, roughly similar to Nvidia’s systems.

Malladi further adds in her statement that Qualcomm will offer modular sales. Clients will be able to purchase full racks or individual components. Interestingly, even competitors like Nvidia or AMD could use Qualcomm’s CPUs or other data center parts. The new AI cards are also said to be capable of handling 768GB of memory, surpassing both NVIDIA and AMD in this metric.

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Apple has faced a major setback in the United Kingdom after one of the regional tribunals ruled that the company had misused its dominant position in the app market. The court, in an antitrust lawsuit, found Apple guilty of charging developers unfair commissions on the App Store. The ruling might cost the tech giant around $2 billion in compensation.

Apple faces an antitrust lawsuit over App Store commissions in the UK

The London Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) ruled that Apple had misused its dominant position between 2015 and 2020 by blocking fair competition in app distribution and demanding excessive commissions from developers. The court further added that the Cupertino-based giant charged commissions of up to 30% instead of a fairer 17.5%.

The most shocking part of the ruling is that the court claims Apple passed nearly half of those extra costs on to consumers. This led to higher app prices across the brand’s ecosystem. The lawsuit was led by British academic Rachael Kent. She argued that Apple made “excessive profits” by controlling every aspect of how apps are sold and what developers pay. Her team estimates the damages to be about 1.5 billion pounds (about $2 billion).

Apple vows to appeal as the lawsuit gains momentum

Apple has officially acknowledged the ruling, saying it “strongly disagrees” with the ruling, calling it “a flawed view of a competitive and thriving app economy.” The company has also confirmed that it intends to appeal against the ruling. Another hearing is scheduled to take place next month to find a way to calculate the total damages.

But regardless, this case shows how diverse and powerful Britain’s legal system is. In this scenario, it set an example by allowing groups of consumers to collectively challenge a powerful corporation. Rachael Kent stated that the verdict proves “no company, no matter how wealthy or influential, is above the law.” Similar lawsuits are also planned against Microsoft, Google, and Amazon for their developer fees.

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The European Commission has accused TikTok and Meta of breaching the EU’s strict transparency laws under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The authority claims that the two popular social media platforms have made it difficult for researchers to access public data and for users to report illegal content or challenge moderation decisions. Both companies are hereby taken into legal custody.

TikTok and Meta face EU scrutiny for transparency breach

As per the commission’s preliminary review, TikTok and Meta have imposed complicated steps that hinder the researchers from studying how their respective platforms operate. The officials have also argued that such barriers prevent them from analyzing how the platforms are used, especially by minors, and that the users are exposed to harmful and illegal materials.

The DSA, for reference, mandates that the large tech companies must make their data easily accessible to qualified researchers. Both Meta and TikTok have failed to do so. The regulators believe that they may be undermining efforts to keep digital ecosystems accountable. If the commission’s allegations are proven right in the court of law, the companies could face fines worth billions.

Both companies may face an industry-wide ripple effect

Meta has responded to the allegations by claiming that it has already adjusted its systems in line with DSA. New reporting options and data access tools have been added. An official spokesperson stated that the company “disagrees with any suggestion” of a violation and continues discussions with EU officials. Further, TikTok is yet to publicly comment but is expected to submit a formal response soon.

If the commission upholds its findings, the companies could face a penalty of up to 6% of their annual revenue. Several other tech giants, including Apple, have earlier objected to the Digital Services Act. But regardless, they abided by the rule, and the final decision could reshape how these companies handle transparency worldwide.

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YouTube Music is one of the most popular streaming apps out there. In the latest news, YouTube has shared that it paid over $8 billion to the global music industry between July 2024 and July 2025. The company says that it is able to achieve this milestone because of its advertising and subscription revenue.

YouTube pays record-breaking $8 billion to the music industry

YouTube reveals that the $8 billion payout marks its highest annual contribution to the music industry so far. It’s a significant jump from last year’s figures, when the company paid $6 billion, and an even bigger leap from 2021-22’s $4 billion payout. The increasing payout confirms the rapid growth of YouTube’s music business.

YouTube’s Global Head of Music, Lyor Cohen, adds that “Today’s $8 billion payout is a testament to the fact that the twin engine of ads and subscriptions is firing on all cylinders. This number is not an endpoint; it represents meaningful, sustained progress in our journey to build a long-term home for every artist, songwriter, and publisher on the global stage.”

The official announced the update first during Billboard Latin Music Week, calling it a sign of continued progress and stronger support for creators across the world.

YouTube bestows the credit upon the creators

YouTube credits its growth to a “twin-engine” system that combines the revenue from its paid subscriptions and advertisements. The platform now has more than 125 million Music and Premium subscribers, including trial users. The tech giant also credits the creators for their outstanding performances.

The whole music industry seems to be going uphill. Recently, Spotify announced it distributed $10 billion to the music industry in 2024, up from $9 billion the year before. YouTube Music is currently accessible in more than 100 countries and supports 80 languages. Google aims to make YouTube the most accessible and rewarding platform for creators across the globe.

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Almost every other tech brand is adopting AI into its apps and services. Now, the e-commerce giant Amazon has introduced a new AI feature designed to help buyers choose the right product. When you compare similar products on the Amazon app or website, the “Help Me Decide” button will recommend the best-suited product based on your purchase history and the product’s reviews.

Amazon’s new Help Me Decide button will simplify the shopping experience

The idea behind this new feature is to simplify decision-making while comparing or buying two or more similar products. For reference, if you are looking to buy a smartphone, the AI might notice your past search history, related product order history, and other information. Based on that, it could suggest a few particular smartphone models. Essentially, the tool studies what you’ve viewed or purchased before and uses that context to give a personalized recommendation.

Now, once you click on the “Help Me Decide” button, Amazon’s AI will recommend a product with a brief explanation of why it might suit you. Alongside the current option, you may also see a “budget pick” and an “upgrade pick” option. The former option will adjust the recommendation for affordable shoppers, while the latter is for those who prefer premium choices.

Amazon wants AI to shape the way its consumers shop

This isn’t the first time the e-commerce giant has integrated AI into its app or service. Amazon previously launched Rufus, an AI chatbot that guides customers through purchases, and a tool that automatically generates product buying guides. More recently, Amazon introduced Lens Live AI, which scans your surroundings using your phone’s camera and suggests matching items from its store.

Now, with the latest addition, the Help Me Decide tool, the company continues its push to make online shopping faster and more intuitive. For now, the feature is rolling out to millions of users across the US. It may be rolled out later to the users of other territories.

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Google has announced a big step toward smarter disaster protection with its latest Earth AI update. The tech giant has integrated its powerful Gemini AI with years of global satellite, weather, and population data. With this revolutionary tech, the company not only aims to predict the disaster, but also who will be affected the most.

Google’s Earth AI tech brings a smarter way to understand natural disasters

At the centre of this tech is something Google calls Geospatial Reasoning. It basically allows AI to study several Earth data, such as maps, weather forecasts, population density, and infrastructure layouts at once. Using this, the AI can portray a deeper picture of what might happen during events like tornadoes or floods.

The best part about this technology is that instead of showing only the storm’s path, it can identify which neighborhoods are at risk and how many people could be affected. To provide access to information, anyone can ask Google direct questions related to Earth, such as “show me areas where rivers are drying.” Gemini then uses the satellite images and the provided data for reference. After a quick review, it will provide answers that once took experts days to analyze.

It wants to turn data into a way of prevention

Google’s vision with the Earth AI goes beyond normal forecasting. It wants the communities and disaster response forces to be prepared in advance. The firm has also opened Earth AI’s door on the Google Cloud. Because of this, the governments and organizations can now integrate it directly into their data.

This particular technology can become way more useful than we can think of. It can predict power outages, disease outbreaks, or environmental risks before they become major crises. For example, the World Health Organization’s Africa office is already testing the system to forecast cholera outbreaks. It wants the responsible bodies to shift from reaction to prevention.

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